FUNDAMENTALS (formerly known as Foundations) Course Topics
The FUNDAMENTALS (Foundations) course is the prerequisite course for ALL O-G training with Fundamental Learning. It is NOT intended to be a stand-alone course for anyone wishing to teach using the Orton-Gillingham approach. It is only the FIRST PART of the Classroom Educator or Associate level training and is not meant to be taken in isolation without further study.
Fundamentals provides an overview of the processes underlying literacy development; current research in the fields of reading, writing, spelling, and dyslexia; the scientific study of language and its structure; and introduces the O-G approach.
It is suited to teachers of any age group or level, speech-language pathologists, tutors, parents, or anyone who wants to understand English! You will be provided with extensive materials to support your learning and to start building your toolkit.
After completion of Fundamentals, you are strongly encouraged to continue on with the Associate Level training. This is a requirement if you will be working with students in a 1:1 remedial situation, and/or if you wish to pursue Academy certification at the Associate level. For those working in classrooms, there is also a Classroom Educator course that is targeted to application in the classroom. I highly encourage anyone working in the Classroom to complete all 3 training sessions as you will gain additional knowledge, be provided with more materials, and learn various strategies in each course.
Prerequisites:
- good working knowledge of the English language
- Although not required to take the course, a minimum of a B.A. is required to pursue certification with the Orton-Gillingham Academy (OGA)
Requirements to receive Certificate of Course Completion:
- Full attendance at all sessions
- Required Readings and assignments
- Quizzes, Assignments
The Orton-Gillingham Approach – attributes and organizing principles
Dyslexia – characteristics, research, simulations
Comorbid Issues
Research on Reading, Language Development and Orthographic Processing
Phonetics vs Phonology
Phonological Processes, Speech Development
Obstruents, Sonorants
Consonants: Plosives, Affricates, Fricatives, Nasals, Glides, Liquids
Vowels: short-long, lax-tense, checked, rhotic, diphthongs
Syllabic consonants
Voicing
Phonological Awareness Assessment
Phonemes, Graphemes, Phones, Allophones
International Phonetic Alphabet
Minimal Pairs
Phonics
Principles of English Orthography
Digraphs, Trigraphs
Final, single non-syllabic <e>
Homophones
Spelling Error Analysis
Leveled text, readability formulas
Decodable text – recognizing, analyzing, writing
Syllables
Syllable timed vs Stress Timed Languages
Introduction to Morphology and Etymology
Spelling Patterns and Generalizations
Rapid Naming
Fluency, Prosody, Oral Reading Fluency Norms
High Frequency/Sight/Dolch words
Content/Lexical and Function words
Dysgraphia
Handwriting Research and Instruction
O-G Lesson overview: Scope and Sequence, Basic Drills, Lesson components
ASSOCIATE Course Topics
The ASSOCIATE level training course continues working with the concepts introduced in Foundations with a more in-depth immersion into the linguistic structure of language, exploring the relationships between phonology, morphology, and etymology, as well as the History of the English Language. There is additional coursework in assessment, profile development, progress monitoring, diagnostic and prescriptive teaching, in-depth student error analysis, vocabulary development, basic grammar, as well as practice in designing and delivering O-G lessons.
A practicum is required for certification wtih OGA (Orton-Gillingham Academy).
See below for more information.
Prerequisite:
- Fundamentals (Foundations)
REQUIREMENTS to receive
Certificate of Course Completion:
- Full attendance at all sessions
- Required Readings and assignments
- Quizzes, Assignments
- End of Course Test / Survey of Knowledge
- Phoneme/Grapheme “check”
- Lesson Plans
- Lesson Demonstration observation
Review Spelling Patterns and Generalizations
“Red” / “Learned”/ “Wonder” Words
- High frequency
- “Sight” words – debunking myths
- Dolch / Fry lists
Basic Grammar
Vocabulary
History of the English Language
Morphology
Etymology
Assessment/Evaluation
- Types, reasons, sources
- Formal / informal
- Standardized testing
- Bell Curve
- Psychoeducational assessments
- Tools
- Intake session
Error Analysis
Student Profiles
Progress Monitoring
O-G Based Programs vs Approach
Lesson Planning
- Components
- Structure
- Scope & Sequence
- Strategies
- Create and critique
Diagnostic & Prescriptive Teaching
Socratic Questioning
Model Lessons
CLASSROOM EDUCATOR Course Topics
The CLASSROOM EDUCATOR level training course is specifically designed to equip teachers with tools and resources to deliver beginning literacy instruction in the classroom. Trainees walk away with a multitude of materials and ideas to use in the classroom, small groups or with individual students.
Utilizing direct instruction, teachers bring a multisensory, structured, sequential, phonics and linguistic approach into the mainstream classroom. The Classroom Educator is qualified to apply the principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach to modify and provide literacy instruction for the classroom or small groups ONLY within the school setting (Tier 1). Trainees who wish to provide remedial support need to take the Associate Practitioner course.
A practicum is required for certification wtih OGA (Orton-Gillingham Academy).
See below for more information.
Prerequisite:
- Fundamentals (Foundations)
Requirements for Certificate of Course Completion:
- Required Readings and assignments
- Quizzes, Assignments
- End of Course Test / Survey of Knowledge
- Phoneme/Grapheme “check”
- Lesson Plans
O-G Lesson plans for Classroom teaching
Classroom Application and Adaptation
Sample Resources and Materials
Scope and Sequence
Lesson Components
Demonstration Lessons
CERTIFIED Course Topics
The CERTIFIED level training course consists of an additional 100 hours of advanced coursework which includes current research, study of the brain, dyslexia and related difficulties, language structure, writing, grammar, morphology, etymology, assessment, error analysis, organization and study skills, technology, lesson planning and using O-G strategies across subject areas.
This is a general guideline as to how the Certified level curriculum will be covered; however, in an advanced level course, there is an expectation that the particular topics and methods will be adapted to suit the needs of the course participants. Trainees should be prepared for an intensive course of study that will involve active participation, completion of readings and assignments beyond the in-class hours.
A practicum is required for certification wtih OGA (Orton-Gillingham Academy).
See below for more information.
Prerequisite:
- Fundamentals (Foundations)
- Associate training
Requirements for Certificate of Course Completion:
- Required Readings and assignments
- Quizzes, Assignments
- Current Research Presentation
- End of Course Test / Survey of Knowledge
- Lesson Demonstrations
- Lesson Plans
The Brain & Current Research about Literacy Development and Learning Challenges
Dyslexia and Comorbid Conditions
Structure of the English Language
Syllable-timed vs stress-timed languages
Analytic and Synthetic Languages
Syllabication vs Morphemic analysis/ divisions
Morphology: Elements; Bases: free, bound, compound, twin – alternate forms, doublets; Stems: simple, complex; Affixes : prefixes, assimilated prefixes, suffixes, suffixal constructions, inflectional and derivational affixes; connecting vowel letters; Blends; Clips
Word Sums and Matrices
Etymology – Roots, Etymons
History and Origins of English – Old English -Anglo Saxon, Norse, French, Latin, Greek
Homophones
Articulation – Dialects, Stress, Affrication
Lexical and Function words – stress, schwa
Semantics – Vocabulary
Advanced O-G Lesson Planning
Assessment – formal and informal; progress monitoring
Error Analysis
Profile Development & Report Writing
Case Management, Advocacy, Study Skills
Grammar / Syntax – form and function
Descriptive vs Prescriptive Grammar; – evolving/changing language
Storytelling and Multisensory Instruction
Grammar symbols – concrete/multisensory
Parts of Speech:
Noun – common/proper, concrete/abstract, countable/non-countable, collective, singular/plural, noun of direct address; Verbals – infinitive, gerund; participles; Articles; Adjective, adjectival; Noun Adjunct; Determiners; Pronouns;
Verbs – action – transitive/intransitive; linking/state of being/copula – Predicate – adjective/ noun; subject complements; Verb – helping/auxiliary; Weak (Regular) vs Strong Verbs (Irregular); Simple Past tense (preterite) vs Past Participle; Phrasal Verb
Adverb, adverbial
Preposition, prepositional phrase, object of preposition
Conjunctions – coordinating, subordinating, correlative, conjunctive adverb
Interjections
Phrases
Clauses – independent, dependent
Sentences: Types: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex; Subject, Predicate; Imperative
Punctuation & Capitalization
Text Structures; Genres; Paragraphs; Essays
Pragmatics
PRACTICUM
PRACTICUM
A practicum is REQUIRED to apply for certification as an Associate Practitioner or Classroom Educator with the Academy.
After completion of ALL requirements, trainees may apply for a practicum.
Limited space is available and requires a strong commitment to learning, self-evaluation and reflection, as well a strong level of competency with the material in the course.
If you are interested in a practicum, please indicate when you submit the registration form.
*Please note there is no guarantee of a practicum placement.
If trainees are not yet ready for a practicum at the completion of the course, they may audit future courses to develop their skills and knowledge and apply again at a later time.
Please refer to Practicum – Frequently Asked Questions
for further information.
An ASSOCIATE level practicum consists of 100 hours teaching a student with 10 observations over the course of a MINIMUM of 8 months.
A CLASSROOM EDUCATOR practicum consists of 50 hours teaching a student with 5 observations over the course of a MINIMUM of 8 months.